Breakthrough has served 24,000 students since 1978.

“Breakthrough changed my life. Everyday I taught I went home smiling. I had a purpose, 48 compelling reasons to get up in the morning. My goals were tangible and real. Breakthrough changed the way I see education, the way I see middle school students and the way I see the achievement gap.”
Jessica
Breakthrough San Juan Capistrano Teacher '10, Stanford University

A Research-based Program Model

You've probably already read about our program elements. But why have we designed our program in this way? What does the field of educational research tell us about meeting our goal of launching high-achieving, low-income students on the path to college?

Only 60% of America’s low-income youth can expect to graduate from high school; one in three can expect to enroll in college; and merely one in seven will earn a bachelor’s degree. Because of the challenges low-income students, students of color and first-generation students face in getting on and staying on the path to college, their success is Breakthrough’s highest priority. Every element of our program is focused around ensuring that our students will have the support and opportunities they need to be successful in middle school, high school and college.

Why does Breakthrough work with academically motivated, high-potential underserved students?

  • Some people might assume that students who are doing relatively well in school and who are academically motivated will succeed no matter what. Yet research shows that early academic success is not a guarantee of high school success or college success, particularly for low-income students. Even the most academically gifted low-income students do not approach the levels of college attendance and completion of high-income students. In fact, the highest-achieving low-income 8th grade students ultimately graduate college at about the same rate as the lowest-achieving high-income 8th grade students (National Center for Education Statistics, The Condition of Education, 2003, Table 22).
  • For more information, see Achievement Trap: How America is Failing Millions of High-Achieving Students From Low-Income Families.

Why does Breakthrough recruit students in the middle grades?

  • Middle school is a time of huge change for students – academically, developmentally and socially – and it is during these years when students, particularly underserved students, either shift their lives towards going to college or away from it. Research from Johns Hopkins University found that “during the middle grades, students in high-poverty environments are either launched on the path to high school graduation or knocked off-track.” (Balfanz, Putting Middle Grades Students on the Graduation Path, 2009)
  • For more information, read Breakthrough’s Research Brief – Middle School: The Fork in the Road to College.

Why does Breakthrough provide an academically intense 6-week summer session with accelerated learning in English literature, math, science, social studies and foreign language?

  • Research shows that two-thirds of the ninth grade reading achievement gap between low- and higher-income students can be attributed to unequal access to summer learning opportunities. (National Center for Summer Learning - Alexander, K., Entwisle, D., and Olson, L. (2007). Lasting consequences of the summer learning gap. American Sociological Review, 72, 167-180)
  • For more information, see Breakthrough’s Research Overview on Summer Learning Loss.

Why does Breakthrough focus on getting students into college-preparatory high school programs?

  • Nationally, only 28% of low-income students are enrolled in a college-preparatory curriculum during their high school years. Yet research shows that bachelor’s degree completion Increases when students have a strong high school curriculum, particularly for low-income students. (Gates Education Policy Paper. Closing the graduation gap: Toward high schools that prepare all students for college, work and citizenship. 2003; Adelman, U.S. Department of Education, The Toolbox Revisited, 2006)
  • For more information, see Breakthrough’s Research Brief - What does it take to prepare students academically for college?.

Why does Breakthrough monitor students’ courses and grades and provide academic support to students throughout the school year in middle school and high school?

  • Research shows that underserved students are more likely to fall off the path to college and that they and their families are less likely “to know about the repercussions of current course choices on future class placements, to know about the differences between high school curricular tracks, or to feel entitled to request changes to higher‐level courses for their children” (Vargas, J. (2004) College Knowledge: Addressing Information Barriers to College. Boston, MA: The Education Resources Institute).
  • For more information, see Breakthrough’s Research Brief – Reality Check: Making Sure Your High School Students are Adequately Prepared for College.

Why does Breakthrough use a “students teaching students” model?

  • Research shows that having peers who are planning to attend college can be even more important than parental encouragement and support. One study showed that students are four times more likely to enroll in college if their peers intend to enroll in college as well. Breakthrough creates peer groups among students and their teachers where high academic achievement is expected and college-going is the norm.
  • For more information, see Breakthrough’s Research Brief – Factors that Support Academic Success.